Sound Cloud Sunday July 22, 2018
Sound Cloud Sunday July 22, 2018
The dog days of summer came a little early this year, but the great new music flows from the tap like syrup in Vermont. Enjoy this weeks’ episode of truly diverse indie artists from around the globe! Airing at 3pm PST Sunday on Laurel Canyon Radio.
Mountain Heart – More Than I Am
Hometown: Nashville
Album: From the album “Soul Searching” out August 18 on Compass Records
Review Snippet: Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. The band’s name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group’s creation. Widely known throughout the music industry for continually redefining the boundaries of acoustic music, the band has gained legions of loyal fans both as a result of their superlative musicianship and just as notably, their incendiary live performances.
Website: http://www.mountainheart.com/
The Brothers Comatose (featuring Nicki Bluhm) – Sugar Please
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Album: From the album “Ink, Dust & Luck released in June on Antifragile Records.
Review Snippet: The Brothers Comatose forge their own path with raucous West Coast renderings of traditional bluegrass, country and rock ‘n’ roll music. The five-piece string band is anything but a traditional acoustic outfit with their fierce musicianship and rowdy live shows reminiscent of stadium rock concerts.
Website: http://www.thebrotherscomatose.com/
Wynchester – High Desert Rambler
Hometown: Los Angeles
Album: Self-titled debut on EAT Records.
Next Time in LA: Speedbuggy USA at the Maui Sugar Saloon in Tarzana on August 17.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pg/wynchestermusic
Sweet Lillies – Nevada City
Hometown: Denver, CO
Album: “A Lighter Hue” (self-released) their second album, came out in June.
Review Snippet: The Sweet Lillies’ high-energy, melodic tunes have quickly captured the hearts of fans in Colorado and beyond. The band, formed in November of 2013, credits its appeal to the original and compelling songwriting of three women who share an unwavering commitment to life on the road. The magnetic combination of Julie Gussaroff on the upright bass, Becca Bisque on the viola, and Melly Frances on percussion and lead vocals – together with powerful three-part female harmony and a cast of exciting instrumentalists – gives this band a rare and alluring sound. As testament to their appeal, The Sweet Lillies have already shared the stage with the likes of Peter Rowan, Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident, and Andy Hall of The Infamous String Dusters, Jeff Austin, and Bridget Law (founding member of Elephant Revival). Based out of Colorado’s Front Range, The Sweet Lillies are continually expanding their audience and reach with a contagious love of music and a get-up-and-dance attitude that spreads lots of love and smiles.
Website: https://www.sweetlillies.com/
Ban Hatton – Homeward Bound
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Album: His second self-released album “Over Too Easy” came out last week.
Review Snippet: At a time when the blending of folk and rock is continuously gaining popularity, it’s not difficult to find artists working with the genres and forgetting the sonic (and thematic) roots. Ban Hatton has a clear grasp on both the sounds of folk and the beat-heavy, feel-it-in-your-bones sort of rock that makes you move. With weighted, emotional lyrics (hear: “Brothers”, an album highlight, and the atmospheric “She’s Gone”) balanced nicely with feel-good tracks such as album opener “Backed By The River”, Walls successfully gives a spectrum without losing a unifying and uniquely folk-rock sound.
Website: https://www.banhatton.com/
Clay Parker and Jodi James/Easy Breeze-Every New Sky
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Album: Their debut album “The Lonesomest Sound That Can Sound” is out next Friday
Review Snippet: “This is an album that will need to be listened to and not just played in the background. It has to marinate in your musical soul–It is for select tastes and for discriminating ears. It will make an impression…it will.
Next Time in LA: A house show in Los Angeles on August 18.
Website: https://cpjjmusic.com/
Worry Dolls – Tidal Wave
Hometown: Liverpool!
Album: Brand new single on Bread and Butter Records released July 1, album “Go Get Gone” to follow.
Review Snippet: “The brilliantly quirky duo Worry Dolls – a super-shiny beacon of joy in a dreamland far, far away from the persistently ‘regular’ sound of folk that’s flooding the charts right now”
Website: http://www.worrydollsmusic.com/
Bob Rea – Say Goodnight
Hometown: Nashville via Durango
Album: From his 3rd album “Southbound” on Shiny Dime Records.
Review Snippet: “Say Goodnight” immediately has a more pleasant and hopeful sound, and its first lines are delivered almost as spoken word, in an immediate and honest fashion: “Wondering and wandering ain’t that far apart/Just two different ways of letting go.” Like this is something he needs to tell us directly, and the delivery is effective over that appealing folk sound. This one too uses the image of a train, although a train that hasn’t yet arrived. And interestingly, it almost refers back to the first track in one line. Whereas in the first song a character is southbound, in this one Bob Rea sings, “And I was nowhere bound.” There is something beautiful about this song, which was written by Bob Rea and Jody Mulgrew. It’s then followed by a more fun, rockin’ number, “The Highway Never Cries.” I’ll be adding this one to my road trip playlist (man, I am itching for a road trip), because of lines like “But the thing about the blacktop is it will take you anywhere/Hitch your wagon to the white line, the white line never lies/Hang your hat out on the highway ‘cause the highway never cries.”
Website: http://www.bobreamusic.com
Bolton Serunjogi – Jogenda Eyo
Hometown: Kampala Uganda
Album: “Blue Winds” (his debut was self released on May 31).
Review Snippet: Ugandan musician, born and raised in the heart of Uganda; Kampala… I play the acoustic guitar and sing. I also play the “Adungu” an instrument from Northern Uganda. I am a Jazzy-Folk Musician! Shoot me a message!
Website: http://www.boltonserunjogi.com/
Mayhemingways – Frances The Truck Driver
Hometown: Peterborough, ON
Album: Debut album “Skip Land” was self-released in February.
Review Snippet: They are a strong musical duo that converges with “Mind-bending and original music with deep roots in the tradition of dark North American folk” (Tom Wilson, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings & Lee Harvey Osmond).
Website: https://mayhemingways.wordpress.com/
Time Sawyer – Oak And Pine
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Album: “Wildest Dreams” their self-released 2017 album.
Review Snippet: Time Sawyer is interested in “real people and real songs” and that’s just what the listener finds in their music – a sense of realness. Time Sawyer blends a grassroots feel with heart-felt lyrics to put on an entertaining show. From introspective ballads to high-energy crowd-pleasers, Time Sawyer’s songs land in that rootsy sweet spot where folk, alt-country, and rock gather for a good time.
Website: http://www.timesawyer.com/
Ned Roberts – Lights On The River
Hometown: London, UK
Album: From his third album “Outside My Mind” from 2017 on Aveline Records.
Review Snippet: With his 2014 self-titled debut album receiving significant exposure on BBC radio, newcomer to the British folk scene, London based Ned Roberts is sure to reach an even wider audience with OUTSIDE MY MIND. Recorded in Electrosound Studios, Los Angeles under the expert direction of experienced producer Luther Russell, the ten self-penned numbers explore all aspects of relationships from the hopeful to the devastated or just chasing dreams. Compared to the likes of Tim Hardin, Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake, I felt he sounded remarkably like James Taylor and the songs could easily be mistaken for some of the Simon & Garfunkel classics. Playing guitar and harmonica, Roberts would have little difficulty replicating the music in a live setting although things are embellished nicely on the album by Eli Pearl (pedal steel) and Jason Hillier (bass) whilst producer Luther Russell contributes drums, electric guitar and piano, also sharing backing vocal duties with Sarabeth Tucek. The songs are all expertly crafted and delivered beautifully; simple easy listening ballads, with the artist only occasionally upping the tempo slightly on the likes of Angel Station, with its ‘desperately waiting for a date in the rain’ theme; don’t worry, she turns up eventually! I really liked this album which grew on me more and more with repeated plays. Highly recommended.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NedRobertsMusic
Jill Jackson – 1954
Hometown: Paisley, UK
Album: Her 5th album “Are We There Yet” was self-released in May.
Review Snippet: “Jill Jackson is a songwriting storyteller transporting you into her world through music. Lyrically and vocally tender, beautifully depicting life, love and loss with each well crafted song. A voice reminiscent of the late Karen Carpenter, Jackson’s voice aches with emotion and honesty, drawing you in line by line.”
Website: http://www.jilljackson.co.uk/
David Starr – Maybe You’re Not The One
Hometown: Cedaredge, CO
Album: “South And West” was self-released in June.
Review Snippet: Starr served as sole producer of South and West. A reimagined cover of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s “Country Comfort” is nestled among 11 songs that Starr wrote or co-wrote. The full-length project follows an acclaimed EP titled The Head and Heart, which was produced by John Oates. “David Starr has a voice you will never forget. His music is authentic, his songs are honest, full of emotion and truth,” Oates says.
Website: https://www.davidstarrmusic.com
